Foot-power propelling and controlling apparatus for boats



c. F. MILLICAN ,961,506

FOOT POWER PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR BOATS June 5, 1934.

Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet l F w A .i 4

ATTORNEY.

June 5, 1934. c LI 1,961,506

FOOT POWER PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR BOATS Filed Dec. 30,1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 4 L l I *1" Q 1 Z! 750 m m w 6 23 60 52 10 J16 1 M 0w I 6! 5 4 A 7 1 J0 J0 J9 I T g 26 I l I I A0 J1 o 14 26 ATTORNEY.

tivities.

Patented June 5, 1934 FOOT-POWER PROPELLING AND CONTROL- LING APPARATUSFOR BOATS Carl F. Millican,

Indianapolis, Ind.

Application December 30, 1932, Serial No. 649,561

9 Claims.

This invention relates to combined propelling and controlling means forsmall boats of the type adapted for use by hunters and fishermen or bysportsmen, and has reference more particularly 5' to means whereby oneperson may propel and control movements of a boat not only for forwardmovement but rearward movement of the boat by foot-power or so as to notrequire use of the arms and hands for operation and control of the boat.

An object of the invention is to provide a combined propelling andcontrolling apparatus for boats that shall be of such construction as toenable one person to simply operate and control a boat to quitely moveit either forwardly or rear- Wardly or to steer the boat to vary thedirection of its movements, and especially while sitting in the boat andfacing forwardly so as to most conveniently observe the attendingsportmens ac- Another object is to provide an improved sportmans boatpropelling and controlling apparatus which shall be adapted to beoperated and controlled by the feet of one person with varying degree ofmovement of the feet, and which may be so constructed as to be adaptedto be unitarily and portable to permit ready shifting of the apparatusto different boats and permitting the apparatus to be readily folded andstored when not desired for use.

A further object is to provide an improved propelling and controllingapparatus for boats which shall be of simple and reliable constructionand yet not be costly to manufacture or to install for use.

A still further object is to provide an improved propelling and steeringapparatus for boats which shall be of such construction as to be adaptedto be shifted for reversing or propelling the boat backwards and againnormally propelling the boat forwardly and entirely under control of thefeet of an occupant of the boat, and which shall be adaptedto be strong,durable and economical in use.

With the above-mentioned and other objects in view, the inventionconsists in a novel combined boat-propulsion and steering apparatushaving reversing properties; and in the novel parts and combinations andarrangements of parts, as hereinafter particularly described and furtherdefined in claims comprising parts of this specification.

Referring .to the accompanying drawings- Figure 1 is a top plan of anovel gearing comprised in the invention and mounted on the rearwardportion of a boat, the gearing being according to one of theadvantageous forms of the invention, the propeller shaft being shown asbeing arranged for propelling the boat forward; Fig. 2 is a similar topplan in which the gearing is shown in relatively reverse position of thepropeller so as to cause backing or reverse movement of the boat Fig. 3is a vertical sectional elevation of the novel propelling andcontrolling gearing constructed substantially in accordance with oneform thereof as indicated in the preceding views; Fig. 4 is afragmentary sectional plan View showing details of the gearing; Fig. 5is a top plan of the rearward portion of a boat provided with theinvention in the form of construction herein-before illustrated andshowing the propeller shaft arranged so as to steer the boat in onedirection; Fig. 6 is a plan view similar to Fig. 5 but with thepropeller shaft turned oppositely so as to steer the boat in theopposite direction; Fig. '7 is a fragmentary horizontal section throughthe gearing particularly showing portions of the driving gear apparatus;Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal section showing other portions of thedrive gear; and Fig. 9 is a perspective View of associated controllingparts of the apparatus.

Similar reference characters in the various figures of the drawingsindicate corresponding elements or features of construction hereinreferred to in detail.

As illustrative of the purposes and functions of the invention therearward portion of a boat is shown which comprises a bottom 1, hullsides 2 and 3 and a stern portion 4 of suitable shape, for the purposesof the present invention the hull having a seat 5 fixed therein tosupport the occupant of the boat approximately in the stern portionthereof and so as to face forwardly and permit ready operation andcontrol of the boat by means of a rotary propeller and novel apparatusfor the operation and control thereof.

Suitable mounting devices comprise a frame base or hollow bar 6 ofsuitable'length which has end pieces 7 and 8 tightly secured on theopposite ends of the base part, each end piece having a vertical bar 9of suitable vertical length to bear against the back of the sternportion 4 and extend higher and is provided with a jaw 10 and aset-screw 11 for clamping the end piece to the stern portion. Two guiderollers 12 and 13 are suitably spaced apart and mounted on end portionsof the base and conveniently are each provided with a supporting jaw 14secured to the upper portion of the bar 9 of the end piece. A supportingarm 15 is provided with a head member 16 which embraces the base bar 6and pera screw propeller 28 fixed thereto.

mits the arm to be forced to turn upwardly but is supported againstdrooping movement by suitable means if needed, the arm having a journalbox 17 on its end and may be provided with a heel 18 to engage the backof the boat to suitably support the arm and machinery that may becarried by the journal box which has a vertical hollow frame part 19rotatable therein and extending therethrough, the part 19 extendingdownwardly approximately to a point lower than the bottom of the boatwhen in operative position. A gear case 20 is provided which has a hub21 that is rigidly secured on the lower end portion of the part 19, thelatter having a ring 22 fixed therein a short distance from its lowerend through which a drive shaft 23 extends upward and downward beyondthe frame part. A gear wheel 24 is fixedly secured to the lowerendportion of the shaft and is located within the casing 20, one side ofthe casing being provided with a boxing 25 rotatively supporting apropeller shaft 26 so as to be horizontally arranged and having a pinion27 thereon meshing with the gear wheel. The propeller shaft projectsoutwardly and has The under portion of the casing 20 and the journal box25 has a suitable propeller guard 29 thereon which may be dragged oversmall obstacles and prevent damage to the propeller.

A novel drive and control mechanism includes a sector 30 having a hub 31which is secured to the hollow frame part 19 upon the journal box 17, aguard plate 32 suitably arranged upon the sector and axle stud 33 with apulley 34 thereon,

' and an axle stud 35 secured to the sector approximately on theopposite side of the hub. The studs project through the plate 32 andthe'pulley 34 and a small guide pulley 36 is arranged on the studsrespectively upon the guide plate. A similar guide plate 32' is arrangedupon the studs slightly above the rollers and upon the plate 32', aroller 34' is mounted on the stud 33 so that it is above the roller 34,and a roller 36' is arranged on the stud 35 and upon the plate 32'. Adrive pulley 37 is mounted with its hub member approximately on the topof the frame part 19, the latter being tubular as shown, and a lowerportion of the pulley extends. downward over the part 19 and rotativelyguided thereon by means of bearing rollers 38. The drive shaft 23 has aclutch member 39 secured to the upper portion thereof and extending intothe upper portion of the pulley 3'7 and has suitable grooves or recessesin which rollers or balls 40 are arranged L to co-operate with theinside of the pulley rim an opening freely receiving the clutch member39.

For stopping rotation of the frame member 19 when turned so as to movethe propeller and under the boat for reversing boat movement, a stopdevice is provided which comprises a body plate 43 having a hub 44 whichis secured on the base 6 and serves as a stop collar for the part 16,the plate 43 having a stop member 45 and also a tail part 46 adjustablybolted thereto and extending downward to bear against the back of thestern or the portion 4 of the boat, the plate 43 having also a stopfinger 4'7 on its upper portion to be engaged by a stop projection 48with which the sector 30 is provided.

In case the heel 18 of the arm 15 does not make contact with the rearportion of the boat stern because of inclination of the stern portion,the journal box 17 may have a lug 49 fixed thereon to normally contactwith the end of the arm 45 so as to ordinarily steady the frame part 19to prevent angular changes thereof but releasing the connection in casethe propeller is swung upward by dragging of the guard 29.

Suitable foot-power apparatus comprises two belts 50 and 51 extendingover the guide pulleys 12 and 13 respectively, the belt 50 extendingover and partly about the roller 34, the belt 51 being oppositelyarranged and extending partially about the roller 34, both belts beingwrapped on and secured to the drive pulley 37 in one and the samedirection. A- pivot shaft 52 is arranged in practice upon the bottom ofthe boat and connected at its ends to two radius rods 53 and 54- thatare pivotally connected to seat rails 55 and 56 respectively which aremounted upon the seat 5 and supporting a seat back 57. Two foot-levers58 and 59 are supported at the lower ends by the rod 52 and areconnected to the belts 50 and 51 respectively so as to be independentlyoperated for control of the apparatus, the levers being provided withsuitable pedals or foot parts 60 and 61 respectively so that an operatoron the seat 5 may push the foot-levers forward and thereby exert pullingforce on the belts, retraction being effected by the spring 41.

In practical use both foot-levers may be simul taneously pushed forwardwith equal force which turns the drive pulley and thereby rotates thedrive gearing and the propeller, pressure on the foot-levers beingintermittently released while the spring 41 causes retraction and returnmovement of the drive pulley. Steady propulsion of the boat isaccomplished by pushing of both foot-levers simultaneously andintermittently, and steering is effected by varying the force applied tothe foot-levers by which the frame part 19 is turned more or less in thedesired direction after which equal pressure is applied to causerotation of the propeller. 'The propeller is swung around in thedirection shown in Fig 5 by increased pressure and movement of therighthand foot-lever 58 while further movement will cause the propellerto be swung further around so as to be under the boat as shown in Fig. 2whereby backing or reverse motion of the boat may be effected. When thefoot-lever 59 is pushed forward while the other is retracted thepropeller is swung around sufficiently for steering in the oppositedirection, approximately as shown in Fig. 6. After causing properadjustment of the propeller shaft radially to effect the desiredsteering movements the propeller is rotated by causing uniform pull onboth the belts, and propulsion may result by graduatingly pushing oneither one of the foot-levers, since each one of the belts isappropriately wound on and connected to the drive pulley. The guidanceof the belt by the rollers 34 and 34 as their positions are shiftedresult in various rotative movements of the frame part 19 and consequentshifting of the propeller to effect steering actions, as clearlyillustrated in various figures of the drawings.

What is claimed is:

1. A propelling and controlling apparatus for boats unitarily combinedand having a propeller shaft and a propeller thereon, a solitaryportable supporting frame base, an arm mounted on the base, a frame partvertically supported rotatively by the arm, a propeller shaft radiallycarried by the frame part and radially movable thereby to variouspositions and under the base and the arm, and foot-actuated gearing andapparatus continuously to rotate the frame part and also the propellershaft.

2. A foot-power propelling and controlling apparatus for boats combinedhaving a stationary frame base, a vertical frame part and a propellershaft carried radially thereby, a propeller fixed to the shaft, meanssupported by the base rotatively supporting the frame part in normalposition and permitting the part to shift the propeller shaft radiallyand to reverse position, drive gearing supported by the frame part andoperatively connected with the propeller shaft, and foot-power meanshaving connection with the drive gearing to operate the gearing andsimultaneously to control the frame part.

3. A foot-power propelling and controlling apparatus for boats combinedand having a relatively stationary supporting and controlling framebase, a vertical rotary frame part and a propeller shaft carriedradially thereby, a propeller fixed to the shaft, means supported by thebase rotatively supporting the frame part to control radial position ofthe propeller shaft, intermittently-acting clutch drive gearing carriedby the frame part for rotating the propeller shaft, and foot-power meanshaving operative connection with the drive gearing and guided on theframe base to control rctativity of the propeller shaft and also theframe part.

4. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combinedhaving a horizontal stationary frame base and two guide sheaves widelyspaced apart thereon, a frame part rotatively supported by the base, apropeller shaft rota-- tively carried by the frame part and carrying apropeller, over-running clutch drive gearing supported by the frame partand operatively connected with the propeller shaft, the gearing having adrive pulley, two foot-levers movably supported separately, two flexibledrive belts connected to the foot-levers respectively and extending overthe sheaves respectively and thence to the drive pulley and wrappedthereon, and a sector fixedly secured to the frame part and havingdevices thereon contacting with the belts to control them to rotate theframe part and thereby shift the propeller shaft.

5. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combinedhaving independently movable foot-levers, a frame part with a base andan arm thereon rotatively to support the part, intermittently-actingclutch drive gearing and pulley therefor rotatably supported by theframe part, a propeller shaft radially carried by the frame part andshiftable thereby to various positions radially with a propeller fixedto the shaft, the propeller shaft being driven by the drive gearing, asector fixedly secured to the frame part and having two rollers thereon,two drive belts connected to the foot-levers respectively and in onedirection with the gearing pulley and extending about the rollers inopposite directions respectively, and two sheaves spaced apart on saidbase in guiding contact with the drive belts respectively.

6. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combinedhaving a stationary horizontal frame base provided with a clamp jaw andalso two spaced-apart guide sheaves, a frame arm pivotally connected tothe base, means to control pivotal movement of the arm, a hollow framepart rotatively carried vertically by the frame part and carrying apropeller and a guard therefor, a rotary driving mechanism carried bythe frame part and having driving connection with the propeller, asector fixedly secured to the frame part and having rollers mountedthereon, two movably supported foot-levers, and two flexible beltsoperatively connecting the driving mechanism with the foot-leversseparately and guided separately on the guide sheaves and on the rollersto control the sector.

7. A foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatus combinedhaving a stationary horizontal frame base, a vertical hollow frame parthaving a lateral supporting arm pivotally mounted on the base forsupport and rotatably supporting the part, the frame part including agear case with a propeller carried thereby. a driving mechanismincluding an intermittently acting drive pulley carried by the framepart and having operative connection with the propeller, two movablysupported foot-levers, a sector arranged upon and fixedly secured to theframe part and having control devices thereon, and means operativelyconnecting the driving mechanism drive pulley with each of thefoot-levers and having lateral guiding control on spaced-apart portionsof the frame base and also with the control devices on the sector.

8. A reversible foot-power boat-propelling and controlling apparatuscombined including two foot-actuated power devices, a propeller shaftcarrying a screw-propeller, a hollow frame part carrying the propellershaft and provided with a control sector fixed to the part and havingcontrol devices for rotatively moving the frame part, a base having beltguides widely spaced apart thereon, control means carried by the baseand rotatively carrying the frame part for shifting the propeller shaftradially, drive gearing having an actuating pulley carried by the framepart to operate the propeller shaft, and two belts wrapped upon thepulley in one and the same direction and connected with the two powerdevices respectively, the belts being guided by the belt guidesrespectively and controlling the control sector by lateral pullingcontact with the control devices thereon.

9. In a reversing foot-power propelling and 130 controlling apparatus,the combination of a frame base and an arm thereon, a hollow frame partrotatively supported vertically by the arm, drive gearing having apulley rotatively carried by the frame part, a rotary propeller carriedon one side of the frame part and having operative connection with thedrive gearing, a coil spring connected with the frame part and thegearing pulley, a sector fixedly secured to the frame part, two separatefoot-levers, two drive belts connected to the foot-levers respectivelysimultaneously to operate and control the clutch pulley and the sector,and separate means on the frame base to guide the belts.

